Work together for climate displacement: Right group

Today in a seminar title “UN Global Compacts and Climate Displacement: Bangladeshi Civil Society Perspective” held at CIRDAP auditorium, in the seminars multi stakeholders are suggested “Government and Civil Society should work together to influence UN (United Nation) Global Compacts on Migration and Refugees to be prepared by the middle of 2018.”

It should be noted that during September 2016 an UN summit has adopted resolution to prepare two global compacts by 2018. Consultation in international and regional level has already planned in this regard.

The seminar was organized by COAST and EquityBD from Bangladesh, Platform on Disaster Displacement (PDD) from Switzerland and Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) from Norway.

Mr Sayed Aminul Haque of COAST in his key note presentation suggested the two global compacts should review of international legal regime to include climate displacement issues; there should be acceptable definition, plan of action and follow up mechanism in this regard.

He also suggested that within the country government of Bangladesh should formed internal displacement policy, formed climate commission to made effective integration and lead the international climate negotiation.

Mrs Nahida Sobhan from MoFA gave a detail background of the process. Dr Sharmind Neelormi from JU and Ms. Neelopal Adri said more studies needed on the issue to strengthen knowledge and evidence base.

Dr. Atiq Rahaman of BCAS said that climate displacement is a manmade problem as developed country emits high level of carbon. He suggested MoFA should coordinate with civil society to have effective global compacts. IoM Deputy Country Representative Mr. Abdusattar said that climate displaced should be termed as “Environmental Migrants”.

Foreign Secretary Mr Sahidul Haque said that, next two years civil society and government need to work together to influence the global compacts process, where climate displacement should not be separated from mobility issue and “Nansen Protection Agenda” should be considered as a base which has been signed by 107 countries.

Dr. Rustam Ali Farazi MP said that, government should also do with its own resources to protect the people.

Dr Qazi Kholiquzzaman the Chair of the seminar said that, civil society, government and agencies has to work together as they are for the people, as climate displacement is becoming acute problem in Bangladesh.